Car-coupling



N. P. KEMMER.

CAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7, I918.

1,346,603, Patented July 13, 1920.

Mm aL/ls PAVLUV/TC/f/(E/WVER I UNITED STATES -NIGHOI1AS PAVLOVITCH KEMMER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

CAR-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1920.

Applicationfiled October 7, 1918. Serial No. 257,117.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NICHOLAS PAVLOVITCH KEMMER, a citizen of Russia, residing at London, England, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this. specification.

My invention relates generally to railway car construction, and more specifically to a car coupling, the principal object of my invention being to provide comparatively simple and efficient means for coupling together a standard M. C. B. coupler head which is standard equipment on cars used. throughout the United States and Canada and the drawbar hook generally utilized on the cars or wagons of European railways. It will be understood that the standard automatic coupling utilized on American cars includes a coupler head having a pivoted knuckle and that the draw-bar of a European car is equipped with an upturned hook, such coupler members being radically different in construction.

It is thepurpose of my invention to provide simple means, preferably in the form of associated links, which can be advantageously utilized for coupling together the two different forms of coupler heads, thus enabling cars equipped with the American standard couplings to be used on European railway systems and coupled to each other or to the European cars. 7

Further objects of my invention are, to provide a coupling which can be readily connected or disconnected, and further, to pro-- vide a construction wherein the pulling strains are equalized even while the coupled cars are traversing curved portions of the track.

With the foregoing and other objectsin view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a car coupling of my improved construction.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the coupling.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section of one of the link engaging lugs or bosses which is formed on the side of the M. C. B. coupler head.

Figs. 4 and 5 are elevational views of a key or pin utilized for retaining parts of my improved coupling on the M. C. B. coupler head.

Referring by numerals to the accompany ing drawings which illustrate a practical embodiment of my invention, 10 designates a coupler head of M.- C. B. standard type, the same being provided with the usual pivoted knuckle 11. Formed integral with the sides of the coupler head are bosses 12 and projecting outwardly therefrom are integral lugs 13, the same being preferably oval in cross section and their rear faces being preferably concave or curved lengthwise as designated by 14;. Formed through the outer portions of these lugs 13 are vertically disposed apertures 15 preferably oval in shape.

Thenumeral 16 designates the draw-bar 7 generally utilized on European cars, said draw-bar terminating in a vertically disposed hook 17. The connection betweenthe head 10 and hook 17 as contemplated by my invention includes a pair of elongated closed links 18 and a closed triangular link 19, said links being looped together or connected to each other in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1.

The straight side portions of the links 18 may be arranged parallel with each other, or they may occupy slightly inclined positions relative to each other, thereby forming links which gradually taper from one end to the other as illustrated in Fig. 2. The larger ends of these links or the endsopposite to the ends which engage the triangular link 19 are positioned on the lugs 13 and bear directly against the curved faces 14 on the rear sides of said lugs.

To secure the links in operative position on the lugs 13, I utilize keys 20, preferably in the form of pins, which are adapted to occupy the apertures 15. These pins are provided on their upper ends with integrally formed fingers 21, which, when said keys are properly positioned, overlie the ends of the links 18 which are located on the lugs 13. The lower portions of these keys 20 are slotted as designated by 22 and arranged in these slots and pivotally connected to the keys are gravity detents 23.

When the keepers 20 are inserted in the apertures 15, these detents 23 are swung upwardly so that they occupy vertical positions within the slots 22 and when the keys have been properly positioned, the lower portions thereof projectbelowthelugs 13, I thus permitting the detents 23 to drop into substantially horizontal positions, thereby preventing the accidental displacement of the link retaining keys;

The triangular link 19 which is connected to the links 18 includes a relatively heavy base leg 24 and a pair of side legs 25, the latter being of the same length and converging towarda central point or a point in alinement with the center of base leg 24,

thus forming a curved apex portion.26.i

When coupling of my improved construction is in service, this apexportion 26 is engaged in the hook 17 on the end of the draw-bar 1'6.

- or they may be inclined toward the draft By utilizing a triangular link between the hook 16 and the links 18 which are detachably connected to the standard coupler head 10, a very strong and substantial structureis 'provided, and in service the links 18 are subjected only to pulling strains. By virtue of this arrangement, the links '20 can be ar-' ranged in positions parallel with each other line as illustrated in Fig. 1, I

To automatically equalize the pulllng strains on the links 18 and the lugs or pro-1 jections 13 on the standard coupler head while the coupled cars are traversing curved portions of the track, theinner face of the other. I V

When uncoupling the cars, the linked conapex portion 5260f the triangular link or that face which bears directly against the inside of the hook 17 is-provided with a relatively long bearing face 526 which arrangement permits the coupling hook 17 to slide along the curved face as the coupled cars swing or shift laterally with respect to each nection between the coupler head and hook I is lengthened by withdrawing the pin 20 from one of the lugs or projections 13 and then disengaging the'hook 18 from saidlug, thus permitting the links to assume-the positions illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This uncoupling operation is performed when the cars of the train are brought to a stanstill in a stretched condition, but if the cars are relatively close together, the uncoupling can be eiiected by merely lifting the apex portion of the triangular link 19 r from the hook 17.

A coupling of my'impi'ovedconstruction is comparatively simple, can be readily connected or disconnected, yields readily to the movements of the coupled care while in service, is automatic in the transmittalof pulling strains from one coupler head to an- 1. In combination with an M. C. Psstand ard coupler head provided on its sides with projecting portions and adraw bar provided with a hook, a coupling comprising a pair of closed links adapted to engage the projectinglportions on thecoupler head, a triangular link connected to said pair of links and adapted to engage the hook on the draw bar, and keys passing through the projections on the coupler head, one end of said keys being provided with a laterally proecting finger and the opposite end being provided with a movable detent.

2. In combination with an M. C. B. standard coupler head provided on its sides with projecting portions and a draWbar provided with a hook, a coupling comprising a pair of closed links adapted to embrace the projecting portions on the coupler head, and a closed link connected to said pair of links and adapted to engage the hook on the draw bar, keys passing through the projections on the coupler head, each of said keys being provided with a laterally projecting finger on one end, the opposite end being slotted and a pivotal detent in said slotted end.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature this 8th (eighth) day of February NICHOLAS PAYLOVITOH KEMMER. 

